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Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 2:28 pm
by Niall
Installing a voltmeter for no real reason. I assume the best place to wire it in is the fuse box.
Before I go jamming it in the wrong hole wheres the best place to wire it up?
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 4:55 pm
by marcus
You probably only want it 'on' when the ignition is on, so it will need to connect to circuit 15 in the fusebox (on when ignition switch is in positions 2 and 3).
My reading of wiring diagrams isn't great but from my Haynes it looks like you might be able to piggy-back off connection A8 in the fusebox, where the feed goes to straight from terminal 15 of the ignition switch.
A8 should be in the blue connector block directly above the large fusebox retaining screw near the bottom left of the box.
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:16 pm
by Nate
explore the fusebox with a voltmeter or test light. you want a connection that is live whenever the key is turned (including cranking) and off when the key is turned off. letting you se the voltage during cranking will help you keep an eye on battery health, as it should stay over 9V
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:20 pm
by ianaudia4
Or look in the wiring diagrams in a Haynes for a GTX which came with a voltmeter as standard, you could then replicate.
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:44 pm
by Niall
I have it wired to a switch as it's quite bright and I need to turn it off if I'm driving at night.
I'll have a poke around in the morning and see if I can't borrow a multimeter.
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:46 pm
by Nate
is it a digital one then?
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:56 pm
by Niall
Nate wrote:is it a digital one then?
Yeah, just a cheap ebay jobbie.
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:16 pm
by Nate
got a link? some of them you can fiddle with so they are dimmerer when your headlights are on
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:30 pm
by Niall
Nate wrote:got a link? some of them you can fiddle with so they are dimmerer when your headlights are on
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390685874928? ... 1439.l2649
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:09 pm
by marcus
In the eBay pic, the blue block with the brass screw in the rear view image is a potentiometer, am wondering whether this is for calibration or display brightness.
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:10 pm
by Nate
ah, not that one then. tinting spray?
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:19 pm
by marcus
Or sunglasses, to hide behind... :)
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 3:22 pm
by PeteGLi
You will find a bank of 6.3mm male spade terminals on the back of the fusebox, which are 'switched live'. Connect the positive wire of the voltmeter to one of these. Obviously the other wire from the voltmeter just goes to an earth point.
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 2:54 pm
by james butler
To be honest Niall wouldn't it be best to keep it on a switch as I think your right that it would be annoying to have on all the time lighting up your face?
Re: Voltmeter
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 7:27 pm
by Niall
james butler wrote:To be honest Niall wouldn't it be best to keep it on a switch as I think your right that it would be annoying to have on all the time lighting up your face?
That's what I've done. It's all installed and I only need to connect the lead to the fusebox now, next time I get a chance I'll connect it up.